Power From A Left Jab

[Raewyn]

Hi

How do you get power from a left jab. When I punch with my left it is so weak it feels like my wrist is going to break or bend the wrong way. How do you keep your wrist straight??? Is it supposed to be straight??? Whats the correct techique? Can your left jabs be powerful or are they just meant for something else???? I hope im making sense. Im finding this real hard to explain.

[Mark Weiser]

First thing is we go back to basics and correct your stance in which you are throwing your punch from. Stance are the base of all Techniques the use of balance and movement. Then second go over the proper making off a fist using the structures of the hand.

Then go over the movement of the punch using the entire body doing the technique slow gaining proper application and targeting.

It is difficult to correct without seeing you throw the punch. But this is what I would be doing in my Dojo.

[Marginal]

http://www.ringside.com/pdf_files/boxing_manual.pdf

If your wrist is bending on impact, you probably need to build those muscles up.

[Kamaria Annina]

What you most likely need is just practice, make it so both the left and right jabs are just as strong.

[Andrew Green]

A jab doesn't always need power to serve it's purpose.

It can be used as a set up, Jab - Cross, Jab - Hook, Jab - shot, etc.

It can be used defensively while baking away to prevent follow ups.

It can be used as cover fire to escape a bad place, jabbing while circling to get back to where you want to be in the ring/cage/area

Usually you don't want much power on your jab, at least not your first one, because this means planting your feet, which takes away mobility and gets you counterpunched or taken down.

When you do want to throw a jab with some force behind it the power comes from your legs. Or more specifically your rear leg driving your body forwad behind the jab. Make sure your elbow stays in as flaring your elbow will absorb your own punch...

Your wrist is just something you need to work on, strengthen the forearm and practice. Making sure you're hands are well wrapped and wrists secure to keep yourself from getting injured. Power will come in time.

You might even consider that classical excercise of doing push ups on your fists ;)

[bignick]

You might even consider that classical excercise of doing push ups on your fists ;)
there's another type of pushup?

[TigerWoman]

I think the left jab is probably the least powerful since it does come off the lead shoulder. But it should be thrown straight, with your fist in line with the radius(inside forearm bone) on the same line as the thumb. It is also important to tense at the strike so it doesn't buckle and hurt your wrist. We don't use the typical TKD punch with the palm down. We punch with the palm facing inward. As others have stated, it is usually used before another punch as a set up and sometimes a fake. I'm no expert on boxing but that is what I know of it, as it was taught to me. (pushups are good) TW

[TigerWoman]

there's another type of pushup?

Split pushups, hands together in a triangle, hands point side, , hands in, hand pointed front, knuckles on boards are killers...and those famed fingertip pushups...

All probably help with the left jab. :D TW

[Flatlander]

This is precisely why I lead with my strong side. In this way, my lead jab is faster and more powerful than if I led weak side. Of course, being completely ambidexterous is the ultimate goal, but hey, I'm not there yet.

[Rich Parsons]

This is precisely why I lead with my strong side. In this way, my lead jab is faster and more powerful than if I led weak side. Of course, being completely ambidexterous is the ultimate goal, but hey, I'm not there yet.

Dan,

Leading with your strong side is also directly applying your stick techniques to your empty hands. :)

:asian:

[Flatlander]

Dan,

Leading with your strong side is also directly applying your stick techniques to your empty hands. :)

:asian:I hadn't thought of it that way. Thanks Rich!

[TigerWoman]

Usually people go into a left forward stance, fighting stance, left foot forward since most are right handed. That said, the left hand is leading most of the time, which is the weak hand for right-handers but the stronger leg is in the back. In TKD, we prefer legs so most go into this stance.

But if we want to use our more powerful right with the right leg lead and switch stances to a right stance, we would be "open" to kicking from the other's strong leg since they are still in the left stance and both would be facing the same way. So that is why we mostly stay in a closed stance-facing opposite.

But if the other is not aware, you switch fast, then attack with a right jab, then follow up with a kick (s)...that works. ;) TW

[Andrew Green]

your more powerful punches will come from your back side.

Putting your stronger hand in the rear will give you a more powerful punch.

Also the rear hand is used for defence.

There are benefits to both ways, but for pure striking strong side back is the way to go.

Weapons - Strong side forward.

Wrestling - Strong side forward

Striking - Strong side back

I do all 3, therefore strongside forward tends to work better for me... plus I prefer to close to a clinch to strike :D

[TigerWoman]

The rear hand is the cross, not a jab though.

Also, the cross is always more powerful than the jab.

BTW, I use both hands for defense equally. TW

[Andrew Green]

which is what I just said... guess I got to work on clarity :D

[TigerWoman]

The rear hand is the cross, not a jab though.

Also, the cross is always more powerful than the jab.

BTW, I use both hands for defense equally. TW


which is what I just said

Not exactly. We were talking about the jab-the thread subject. You said it came from behind, it doesn't. The cross does, which is a different punch type. And of course, the cross is more powerful, the punch that comes from behind, but you didn't label it correctly, so yeah, clarity is important. TW

[Andrew Green]

Not exactly. We were talking about the jab-the thread subject. You said it came from behind, it doesn't. The cross does, which is a different punch type. And of course, the cross is more powerful, the punch that comes from behind, but you didn't label it correctly, so yeah, clarity is important. TW
rear punch is a cross, lead is a jab.

Pretty sure I never said a jab could be thrown of the rear side... that wouldn't be a jab..

I'm very hungry right now... that is my excuse for anything that sense makes not.

[Andrew Green]

BTW, I use both hands for defense equally. TW
umm... just for the record... Catching a jab with the lead hand is a big technical mistake that sets you up to take a power shot.

Most punches that come at you will be jabs, therefore most defence should be with the rear hand

[TigerWoman]

There's alot of things that shouldn't be done, but catching a jab wasn't the topic either and nothing I said.

I use both hands equally for blocking depending on whether it is a high kick or a low kick. or high punch or low punch, and also avoid/parry/step then counter. Fighting isn't just with hands, especially when feet are better to use in combination with hands if you are TKD trained. But I disagree with you, about a rear hand blocking a jab punch attack unless you're looking to walk right into it. :uhohh:

Sorry, this has gotten real off topic--which is... the power from a left jab. TW

[Andrew Green]

But I disagree with you, about a rear hand blocking a jab punch attack unless you're looking to walk right into it. :uhohh:

And I bet you will have a hard time finding a boxing coach that will support you on that...

But you are right, we are off topic.

[TigerWoman]

That's probably why in Taekwondo, we're taking the good from boxing and leave the bad. TW

[Andrew Green]

You're absolutely right, what would a boxing coach know about defending jabs...

:rolleyes:

[KenpoTess]

Flow first.. power later..


practice on the bag.. for flow

get the movement of the hip rotation.. *torque* -where the power comes from..

proper body alignment

[Tgace]

Ever try heel hand strikes of the lead instead of a closed fist?

[8253]

Practicing the particular rotation type for a jab should help with the power problem. Other than that, make sure you are hitting with the combined force of your weight and the rotational force.

[Raewyn]

Thank you for all the posts, have learnt alot from the replies.

[bluenosekenpo]

hi raisin, here are a couple of links, the first covers probably some of the best boxing advice on the internet(check out the other stickgrappler forums and archives) and the second should be required reading for anyone that throws a punch. enjoy

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/kbox/kbox.html

http://stickgrappler2.tripod.com/kbox/dempsey.html

[kanjc]

Hi

How do you get power from a left jab. When I punch with my left it is so weak it feels like my wrist is going to break or bend the wrong way. How do you keep your wrist straight??? Is it supposed to be straight??? Whats the correct techique? Can your left jabs be powerful or are they just meant for something else???? I hope im making sense. Im finding this real hard to explain.
Punch straight out with your wrist locked and your elbow bent, letting your arm take the brunt of the blow rather than your wrist. Contrary to popular belief you can get a lot of power with a jab, when you throw any kind of punch including a jab, your power is coming from your mid and upper torso not your arm. A good way to tell if you are getting the whole body into the jab,hook,cross, etc is to tense up your stomach muscles as you start the punch, if you feel a noticible change (tighter) then you are using the whole body and you are going get the power you are looking for. I do agree with most everybody else in the matter of the jab being a lead/set-up punch but, with a good, powerfull jab right from the get-go you can end a lot of fights before they really start.

[Touch Of Death]

Hi

How do you get power from a left jab. When I punch with my left it is so weak it feels like my wrist is going to break or bend the wrong way. How do you keep your wrist straight??? Is it supposed to be straight??? Whats the correct techique? Can your left jabs be powerful or are they just meant for something else???? I hope im making sense. Im finding this real hard to explain.One way to get more power off your left jab is to simultaniously drop your left foot back onto the ball of your foot with the drop of your rotator cuff. To make this work you must leave your body weight where it is with no adjustment. Then you sort of nudge yourself forward off the ball of your foot. Upon striking you will have a nigh bracing angle and your right foot will naturaly come forward as if you were saluting. Also you can leap up on the ball of your left foot several inches in front of where you started to get the same effect. (this is not a step drag motion, but a more of a forward hop and step[ I call it the Aerol Flyn move])
Sean

[TigerWoman]

One way to get more power off your left jab is to simultaniously drop your left foot back onto the ball of your foot with the drop of your rotator cuff. To make this work you must leave your body weight where it is with no adjustment. Then you sort of nudge yourself forward off the ball of your foot. Upon striking you will have a nigh bracing angle and your right foot will naturaly come forward as if you were saluting. Also you can leap up on the ball of your left foot several inches in front of where you started to get the same effect. (this is not a step drag motion, but a more of a forward hop and step[ I call it the Aerol Flyn move])
Sean

That sounds like an Errol Flynn sword move as he sticks it in...
Sounds interesting, I'll try it out, maybe tomorrow, if my back is better...TW

[Raewyn]

hi raisin, here are a couple of links, the first covers probably some of the best boxing advice on the internet(check out the other stickgrappler forums and archives) and the second should be required reading for anyone that throws a punch. enjoy

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/kbox/kbox.html

http://stickgrappler2.tripod.com/kbox/dempsey.html
Thanks for those links................very informative